Bott Memorial Presbyterian received a $4,000 grant from the peacemaking fund of Synod of the Mid-Atlantic this year to provide school supplies to children in Dinwiddie County. The funds supported a project by the county’s faith community, local government, and schools to make education more…
In October, volunteers from Presbytery of the James churches spent a week helping Ocracoke Island residents recover after Hurricane Dorian devastated the community the month prior. The 9.6 square-mile island is one of the most remote in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There are…
A new initiative is helping Swift Creek Presbyterian tend to Jesus’s sheep (John 21:15-17) in more ways. Using part of the church property, the congregation created Grace Garden, growing tomatoes, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. Produce from the garden benefits the community in two ways. Some…
Encouraging older adults to take active roles in their churches and communities was the focus of a retreat November 7 led by Presbytery of the James’s Older Adult Ministry and Camp Hanover. The theme, “Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow,” and each of the…
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, It was December 2017. It was the 88th Kansas City Power & Light Plaza Lighting Ceremony. The switch was flipped by two Kansas City Chiefs and a child selected from the crowd. For many Kansas Citians, this marked the…
A number of teens from Presbytery of the James participated in PC(USA)’s youth conference Triennium in July. The event, which is held at Purdue University in Indiana every three years, attracts teenagers from around the United States and world who are excited about their shared…
In 1989, three presbyteries —Blue Ridge, Hanover, and Southern Virginia—merged to create the James, named after the major waterway crossing central Virginia and the new presbytery. The merger represented “varied people of faith with different memories, moving forward into a new beginning and a new…
Genito Presbyterian Church in Powhatan County celebrates its 110th anniversary this November. As a run up to the anniversary celebration, the congregation and Pastor Rev. Lisa Salita have been reviewing its history, one decade at a time. This series, entitled Genito Generations, highlights the church’s…
As the danger, violence, and political unrest escalated in Haiti throughout the summer, World Mission asked Cindy Corell to leave in September. She is with her family in Virginia and speaking to groups and churches. The Current Situation in Haiti Unrest and violence in Haiti…
Receiving offerings has been an ongoing part of the church’s story, beginning with the earliest scripture texts. Explore the history and theology of the offering, its spiritual significance, and how faith communities can continue to make congregational giving a vital practice in 21st-century culture at…